Bible Verse of The Day – 12-12-19

Proverbs 10:27 (NKJV) 27 The fear of the Lord prolongs days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened.

Love or fear? Which is more important?

Yesterday we talked a little about the fact that many people will intentionally ignore or disregard the topic of “the fear of God” because they prefer to focus on God’s love and mercy.

So, today we will spend some time talking about those two things; God’s love and His mercy.

God’s love and mercy are truly incredible. The fact that he loved us enough to send His Son to die for our sins is beyond comprehension.

His love for us is so fierce that He was willing to surrender Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, to atone for our sinful, wicked ways.

John 3:16 (NKJV) 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

It’s this incredible, unfathomable love that causes people to stumble when they think about the fear of God. The two, His love and the fear of Him, don’t go together in their minds.

Many people can’t comprehend how a God that loves us so much, and shows us such incredible mercy, should also be feared. In their minds, the two simply can’t be reconciled.

It’s absolutely true that God’s love and mercy are critically important. Without them, not a single one of us would have any hope of a future, or even a worthwhile existence here on earth, let alone eternity in His presence.

But fearing Him is also important.

As we mature, and we get a better understanding of His love and mercy toward us, we will also learn to fear Him. For a God who can love us as fiercely as He does, despite our sin and wickedness, is surely also to be feared.

Again, it comes back to getting an understanding of who He really is. Only when we begin to get this kind of understanding will we also begin to grasp the concept of fearing Him without living our lives being afraid of Him.

We hope that this is starting to help everyone make sense of the Biblical concept of the fear of the Lord, and put it all into perspective.

Once we “get this”, so many other things will fall into place in our minds. It will all begin to make sense as we ponder on who God really is. And our perception of so many things will be forever changed as God brings understanding in this area.

Tomorrow we will continue by discussing the relationship between fear and reverence.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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